Time controlling switch device



July 4, 1933. A. P. HODGE 1,916,665

TIME CONTROLLING SWITCH DEVICE Fiied March 15, 1950 U I III 2,

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Patented July 4, 1933 bU-NITED STATES ALBERT P. HODGE, or wrnstrnn, conuncrrcur, nssrenoa T WILLIAM ncrnnnn'r PATE ror-F-ms it CLOCK COMPANY, OF WINSTED, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT TIME con'rnonnme swircn' nnvron Application filed'March 15, 1930. Serial No. 435,070.

The present invention relates broadlyto time-controlling devices and is more particularly concerned with a mechanical assembly which includes, as essential parts thereof, an

' actuating mechanism and time-controlling instrumentalities which are intimately associated with the former to operate the same upon the elapse of a predetermined interval of time.- i For illustrative, and not limiting purposes, the present invention isshown as including an electrical switch which is operated by the time-controlled instrumentalities. In such an assembly the ease, accuracy, and reliabil- '15 ity of adjustment as to the interval which elapses from the setting of'the device to the moment when the switch is thrown are features of essential'importance. This fact has been borne in mind in the devising of the switch. device of this. invention which includes these properties to a high degree.

A particular feature of the invention is associated with the provision of mechanism for varying the time-controlling instrumentalities. It is my idea to provide mechanism which functions to throw a switch at the same point in the operation of the mechanism regardless of the'length of the time interval which is to be governed. Difierences in the length of the intervalare obtained by varying the point atwhich the time-controlling instrumentalities become'effective. This will developed more fully hereinafter.

Other objects will be in part obviousand part p'ointed'outimore in-detail hereinafter. I

Thisinvention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combination of elements and arrangement, of parts which will be exemplified in 'the construction hereinafter set :forth andfthe scope of the application of which will be indica-ted in the appended claims. 4 H "For a full and more complete understandin -of the invention reference ma be had to the following description and accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view in elevation ofia *device madein accordance with thepresent 0 invention, with the operating parts illustrated during the act of setting the switch in on position;

igure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but

developing the switch in off position. 7

. Figure 3 is anenlarged'detailed sectional showing takenfabout on the plane indicated by the line 3-8 of Figure'1, and 1 Figure 1 is another enlarged'detail'ed sectional illustration taken about on the'plane signed to be controlled by time-controlling 'instrumentalities carried by the plates 10 and 11, may be of any suitable construction. In the illustrated embodiment this switch is shown as being of the snap-over type and comprises pair of spaced metallic plates 15 between'which is mounted a block 16 of fibre or other insulating material. The blocl 16 is formed of four sheets of fibre material and acurved track 17 is formed in this block. 16. A rib 17a constitutes a part of the track 17 i and this rib is formed by causing the-two inner sheets of the block 16 to project a.

greater distanceinto the curved track than the outside sheets. i

Carried by the block 16,'but spaced from the plates 15, are a pairof contact plates 18 a'nd 19. These plates 18and'19 aremounted on the block in any appropriate manner and are provided with curved edges which are in alignment with the outer edges of' the track 17 at one end thereof. This is clearly shown at lsm The circuit which iscontrolled by the switch now being described is broken when there isno conductivewconnection between the plates 18 and 19, but is closed when they are connected. i

A spool-like roller 20, ofthe-construction developed in Figure 4, is -designed to conductively connect these plates 18 and 19 when the circuit is to be closed. The end portions of the roller normally ride on the outer sheets of the block 16 along the trackway 17 The latter is cut away immediately adjacent the lates 18 and 19 so when the roller is at one end of the tracka good engagement with the contact plates isinsured. The rib 17a is complemental to the spool-like construction] of the roller and serves to retain-the spool on the track.

A link 21 of any preferred insulating material has a grooved head 21a which fits over the middle portion of the roller20. The other end of the link is bifurcated as shown at 22 andthis bifurcation receives a pin 23 carried by an. arm 24 of a lever 25. The latter is pivotally mounted on a pin 26. A coiled spring 28 is disposed about the link 21 and bears against-a flange 27 on the link 21 at one end and the pin'23 at the other. This spring 28; has a tendency to urge the link 21 in a direction to maintain the roller in .a position at one end or the other of the track 17;, This spring is also an essential element to the snap-over action of the switch. As the angle between the link 21 and arm 24 is increased the pin 23 compresses the spring '28 untilthese parts2l and 24 are at an angle of 180 degrees which is the critical point. Immediately thispoint is past the spring 28 expands to snap the roller to one end or the other of the track 17 The lever is provided with cars 30 and 31 which are designed to engage the frame at the ends of a slot therein through which the lever 25 passes, and these cars 30 and 31 constitute a means for limiting the swinging movement of the lever 25.

A spring 35 has one endanchored to one of the frame plates 15 and the otherend fastened to the lever 25.- This spring 35 normally urged the switch to off position and also constitutes'the source of power for operating the time-controlling, instrumentalities. To the end of clearly describing this ac tion it is noted that this spring constantly urgesthelever 25 in a counterclockwise direction, speaking with reference to the draw- .ing. This lever 25 is of suflicient length to permit of the use of the end thereof as an operating member.= v

The time-controlling instrumentalities illustratedmay be, of course, of various construction. In the present instancethey are shown as comprisinga train of gears which are braked by an-escapement mechanism; This is developed in the drawing in a diagrammatic manner. A main gear 40 meshes with a pinion 41 which is carried by a gear 42- which in turn operatively engages a pinion 43 which iscarried bya shaft which also carries a gear 44 that meshes with apinion 45 which operates an escapement ratchet 46. The escapement mechanism isof the conventional type and includes an escapement lever 47. All of the foregoing gear mechanisms are carried by shafts which are journaled in the plates 10 and 11.

A shaft carries the main gear 40 and this shaft has one end journaled in'the plate 10 while the other end fits in a bushing 51 which is affixed to the plate 11. A sleeve 52 is freely mounted on the shaft 50 between the plate 10 and gear 40 and this sleeve 52- has an arm 53 extending radially therefrom. The latter is operatively connected by a link 54 with the lever 25. A pawl 55 is pivotally mounted at 55a on the arm 53', and this pawl has atooth 56 which is adapted to engage with theteeth of the gear 40 and at the same time extend laterally therebeyond. A leaf spring 57 is carried'by the arm 53 and normally urges the pawl into engagement with the teeth of the gear 40. A plate 60, in the form i of a segment, is carried by the bushing 51 andthissegment is positioned so that its arcuate edges project slightly beyond the edge of the gear 40. An operating member 61 is fastened to the segment and is operative to adjust the position of the latter with respect to the gear 40.

The operation of the foregoing mechanism may be briefly outlined as follows:

Assuming the switch is in a position breaking the circuit and it is desired to complete the circuit and have it remain closed for a certain predetermined period after which .it is to be automatically broken: the segment 60 is first adjusted with .respect to the gear 40 to provide the desired interval. The lever-25 is then rotated in a clockwise direction sufi'i ciently to snap-over the switch into a position wherein the roller 20 connects the plates 18 and'19. The lever 25 is then released and T erence to the gear mechanism and lever 25.

The time interval is variedby varying the position of the segment. 60 so as to properlyi change the point with which the pawl tooth 56 comes into engagement with the teeth of the gear 40.

As m'anylchanges above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departingfrom the scope thereof, it is intended that all mat ter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be could be made in the interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitin sense.

lt is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

That is claimed is:

1. A timing device of the character described comprising a supporting frame, a gear having gear teeth, carried by said frame, a switch including a lever and a spring urging said lever into a direction wherein the switch is in off position, an arm extending from said lever and including means for engagt'ngsaid gear teeth to turn the gear under the influence of said spring, and means for maintaining said engaging means inoperative until it has reached a certain predetermined point with respect to the said gear teeth.

2. A timing device of the character described comprising a gear train including a main gear, escapement mechanism for braking the operation of said main gear, a switch of the snap-over type including an operating lever for throwing the switch, an arm connected to said lever, a second lever mounted carried by said second lever for engaging said main gear, and a segment also mounted coaxially with said main gear and having an arcuate surface for maintaining the pawl out of engagement with said gear until it has reached a certain predetermined point on the periphery of said gear.

3. In a timing device of the character described and in combination, a switch adapted to assume off and on positions and including a lever, a spring for urging the lever into a position wherein the switch is off, an arm pivotally connected to said lever, a gear having gear teeth, a second lever mounted coaXially with the said gear, the said arm being pivotally connected to said last mentioned lever, a pawl carried by said last mentioned lever and havlng atooth for engaging the gear teeth of said gear, said tooth eX- tending beyond said teeth, a member coaxially mounted with said gear and having an arcuate surface, said pawl tooth being adapted to engage and ride over said arcuate surface, and an operating member for ad'usting the position of said member having t e areuate surface.

ALBERT P. HODGE. 

